Lawn sprinkler



Sept. 2, 1947.

w. H. FREYGANG 4 LAWN SPRINKLER Filed Dec.. 7, 1944 5 Sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 2, 1947.

w. H. FREYGANG LAWN SPRINKLER 5 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Dec. 7, 1944 esl 66.6.5

SePt- 2 1947' w. H. FREYGANG 2,426,603

LAWN SPRINKLER Filed Dec. 7. 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 M/fe///m/GAA/G 3% gi, n

@Moruya Patented Sept. 2, 1947 LAWN SPRINKLER Walter H. Freygang, Essex Fells, N. J., assigner to Kidde Manufacturing Co., Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application December 7, 1944, Serial No. 557,217

4. claims. (o1. 299-64) larly to devices of such character employing movable distributors.

More specifically, the invention comprises a device of the above indicated character in which a distributor or dispensing element has oscillating or reverse stroke movement.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide means whereby the liquid to be ydistributed is adapted to create air or other gas pressure for operating the movable distributor.

Another object is to provide a device of the above indicated character which so employs the gas or air as to avoid difficulties such as corrosion or other chemical action or fouling, attending the former use of liquid pressure for operating a movable distributor. v

Another object is to provide a more uniformly acting and dependable distributor for ensuring continuous even distribution of the liquid, and to avoid stoppage or intermittent action of the distributor whereby to prevent undue concentration of the liquid in any of the directions in which it is to be distributed.

Another object is to provide a device of the above indicated character that is siInp-le and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, and effective in its operation.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about t be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referredto herein Will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specication, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a sprinkler device constructed in accordance with one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, taken in the direction of an arrow A, showing a valve and control mechanism employed in the device.

Figure 3 is a view taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a View of a portion of the structure as seen above the line 5-5 of Figure 2, but with parts removed.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan View of the structure of Figure 4, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

, 2 Figure 5 also being a view of the lower side of the upper left-hand part of the casing It, as seen in Figures 1 and 3. Figure 5 also has superposed thereon a sectiontaken along the line A-A of Figure 2, showing a valve member.

Figure 6 is a detail rear View of a Valve member shown in front elevation -near the top of Figure 2.

Figure '7 is a view, taken substantially along the line 'i-'l of Figurev 1 with the cover 58 remove-d.

Figure 8 is an, end elevation, taken from the right of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional View, taken substantially along the line 9--9 of Figure, of a vane structure embodied in the invention. v

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional View, taken substantially along the line I-I B .of Figure 2, of an arm and ring lstructure included in the device.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly :to Figure 1, the device shown comprises, in general, a `casing Ii), an injector I2, a Venturi tube i4, a distributor or dispensing element I6, a shaft I6, an air operated motor or vane 2li, slip motion means 22 connecting the shaft I2 to the distributor I6, a valve mechanism 2li associated with the shaft I8, a supply conduit or hose 26, base elements or runners 28 on which the casing lll rests, and supporting means 3) on the elements 28 for the distributor I6. The shaft I8 extends through a hole I8' in a side wall 48 of the casing Iii.

The base elements 28, see also Figure 8, disposed in parallel laterally spaced relation to each other, are of iiat strap formation having upwardly rounded ends 2s adapting the elements as runners whereby the device may be dragged from one location to another, as by pulling on the hose 26.,

The supporting means 30 comprises a straplike lower member 3i of inverted substantially U-shape secured, at its lower ends, as by Welding to the runners 28, and supports an eyelet 33, secured thereto as by welding and. operating as a loose nt bearing, holding means or support around a portion of the distributor I6.

The casing it, which in this instance is constructed of Idie-cast metal, but which may be composed of other materials, is shown as comprising four main body parts Ii, I3, I5 and il, respectively, which are separated along and defined by horizontal and vertical lines 32 and 3e, respectively, see also Figures 7 and 8, which are connected, as by dowel pins and screws, to' render the body a tightly assembled unit facilitating its manufacture and assembly and the mounting of the other elements therein. One longitudinal A chamber 42, formed by the casing bodyunitv for enclosing the Vane 20, has semi-cylindrical upper and lower portions 44 and 46 of small and large radius, respectively, about the axis of the shaft I3 in parallel offset relation to the axis of the bore 39, and defined axially ofthe shaft 'by the side wall 48 and a side wall56 of the casing 1 IIJ having outer side recesses 52 and 54, respectively, which are provided with covers 5.6 and 58, removably secured in rabbets 5l and 59, respectively, as by screws, extending into the casing body.

A series of three ducts 62, 64' and '66,'see Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, is provided in the side wall 48, Vin which Vthe outer ends of the ducts are equally spaced from each .other on an arc about the .axis of the shaft I8, and the central duct 64 of which is on a vertical line through the axis of the bore 39 and the shaft i8.. The central duct 64 communicates with the compartment 40 at the i-njector I2, and the ducts 62 and 6.6 communicate with the chamber 42 at opposite sides of the vane near the `ends of the strokes of the vane.

Each of the ducts 62 and 66 extends from its entrance in the recess 52, through a partition 63 into a recess of substantially L-.shape formed by channels 6.5 and 61, the channels `6'! of which extend to the plane of the line 32 .over the chamber portion 46 at opposite sides of the chamber portion 44. The lower end of each of the channels 61, vas viewed in Figure 5, forms a passage VB into the vane chamber 46, as indicated in Figure 3. The duct 64 enters the body part I I Vfrom the recess 52, between the channels 65, and communicates with a branch duct 69, which extends to,

and completes the communication of the duct 64 with, the compartment 49.

The injector I2 Figure 1, has an inner jet end 19 in the compartment 40 of the bore 39, and a screw threaded body portion 'I2 which engages a threaded portion of the bore 39, to .position and hold the injector in the casing. An outer end flange 'I4 on the injector body portion 'l2 constitutes an element of a coupling 15 for attachment to the supply conduit 26.

The Venturi tube I4 has an enlarged inner end -head 18 providing an inner recess 80 of larger diameter than the outer diameter of the jet 'I8 close to the jet, and constituting an inlet for liquid from the jet and for air from the duct 64.

, The recess 80 communicates with'a conical recess 82 converging from the recess 80 to a constricted passage k84 vfrom which an outlet `end length 86 of the tube extends, in this instance,

f through the outlet end of the bore 39, and from the casing I0. The length .86 is'provided with a conduit opening 88 divergingly tapering from the constricted passage 84' to the outer end of the tube, and constitutes a journal on which the distributor I6 is mounted for reciprocable rotatable, or oscillating movements about the axis of the Venturi tube. A gasket 96 isheld against the head |8 about the tube I4 by a nut 92 having screw threaded cooperation with the casing I0 in the -bore 39 and being loosely disposed about the distributor I6 to provide for the rotation thereof.

'I'he distributor I6, in this instance, is a pipe, or length of standard tubing, having alined inner and outer end sections 94 and 9 6, respectively, and a main intermediate body or length 98 arched or bowed along agradualarc or curve, and provided with one or more sets or series of apertures |66 which extend radially or otherwise through the side wall ofthe pipe, as at the greater arc side of .the arch. The inner end section 94, in this instance, is reamed to accurately rotatively fit the Venturi tube I4, and to provide an annular shoulder |62 abutting the outer end of the tube.

YThe outer end section 96 is tapped to receive an -end .closure orscrew |05,

A .sheet-like arm |64, Figures 1 and 7, has an apertured rend .|166 secured to the distributor pipe about the latter, and a longitudinally forked or slotted portion |01 extending radially from .the-pipe in the recess 54 between the casing side wall 56 and the cover 58. The shaft I8 carries a fixed radial arm |68 in the recess =54 from lwhich arm a pin or roller Mil-extends into theslot of the arm |64, forming with the latter a slip connection whereby oscillating :movement of the shaft yI8 is translated into similar movemen-t -of the distributor I6.

The vane 26, xed tort-he shaft -B, has l'a short upper paddle section ||2 `in the chamber yportion 44 of small radius and a long levernor main paddle section .I I4 in the chamber portion `46 of large radius, and is provided with rigid side plates I I6 between which a Ybody or bodies IIB of yieldable material, suchas leather, provides a wiping and sealing margin |26 entirely around the perimeter of the vane vagainst adjacent inner surfaces of thelchamb'er 42.

The shaft I8, at its end in the recess 52 has xed thereto a sleeve |22 having an outer end length cylindrical half portion |24 providing axial surfaces or shoulders |26. pinion .|28 projects from ythe end of and is coaxial with rthe shaft |`8 for movement therewith and relative thereto. A radial arm |36, xed to the shaft |28, has side shouldersy |32, and a slot |34 at its outer end, and an outer end portion |36 extending axi-ally of the shaft tow-ard the side wall 48. The shoulders |32 are disposed peripherally aboutI the axis of the shaft -I 8 andY the pinion |28 to be Iengaged by the shoulders |26 `on the sleeve |22. A pin |38 protrudes from the side wall 48 onthe vertical line through the center duct 64 and the shaft I8, and a stop |40 also protrudes from this wall at a location between the shaft |8 vand the pin |38.

A flat sheet frame-like. membery |42 `has a rounded upper end |44 slip fitting `the `sleeve |22, a lower rounded end |46 disposed around the pin |38, and a cross portion |48 near the end |46.

A flat sheet element |58 of ring-like shape is linked about the outer end of the arm |38, in the slot |34 thereof, and about the sleeve |22, and is connected by a spring |52 to the cross portion |48 of the member |42. v K

A at disc-like valve body |69 is rotatively slip fitted on, and about, the sleeve |22, between-the frame I 42 and the side wall 48 in close sliding l side face engagement with the wall 48, andf'has a closed end arcuate recess or channel |62 centered on an arc through the axis of the ducts 62, 64 and 66. ate length that, when the valve body |69 is oscillated about the axis of the shaft I8, it alternately elects communication between the `center duct 64 and the side ducts |52 and 66 respectively.

A stub shaft or The channel |62 is of such arcu- The valve body |60 has upper radially and axially projecting portions |64 and |66 spaced from each othery peripherally of the body for alternate engagement With the portion |36 of the arm |36, and lower radially projecting portions |68 for alternately engaging the stop |60.

In operation, when liquid, such as Water under pressure, is suppliedfrom the conduit 26, and passes through the injector I2, and through the Venturi tube I4 to the distributor I6, a vacuum or suction effect is created by the Water in the compartment 40.

At the beginning of the action, the vane will be at one side or the other of the center of its stroke, as determined by the position of the valve body |60 Which cannot connect the center duct 64 to both side ducts 62 and 66 at the same time and which therefore must be in a position to locate the vane 20 at one side of the center of its stroke as above stated.

With the suction started, the vane 20 will first move to the other side of the center of the stroke. When the vane 20 so moves, it turns the shaft I8 with it, which transmits the motion through the arm |08, the pin IIO and the arm |64 to the distributor I6.

Simultaneously, or during such movement, the shaft I8 carries the sleeve |22, one of the shoulders or surfaces |26 of Which engages one of the shoulders |32 on the arm |30, to turn the latter with the shaft. During this movement, the valve body |60 is stationary to continue to connect the center duct 64 to the side duct 62 or 66 which eifects the shaft movement.

When the arm is moved only slightly beyond the center of its stroke, the spring |52 moves the arm With a snap action through the remainder of its stroke in advance of the movement of the shaft I8 relative to the latter, so that the portion |36 engages one of the projecting portions |64 or |06 on the valve body |60 to reverse the position of the body and its channel |62. This action sets up the suction line represented by the duct 64 and either of the ducts 62 or 66 for effecting the reverse movement of the vane 20 and does this before the latter has reached the end of its previous stroke which, by reason of the inertia of the vane will be completed by the time the suction is effective in the opposite direction. The above described sequence of operation will then be repeated alternately in opposite directions so long as the Water is supplied. When the suction is occurring through either of the ducts 62 or 66, the other of these ducts is open to the atmosphere, whereby the suction is effective to cause movement of the vane 20.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a device of the character set forth has been provided in which the motor or means for moving the distributor is maintained free from the Water or other liquid being distributed; that such motor is therefore not subject to clogging or other fouling or effects from the liquid; that the action of the device is more reliable; that the life of the device has been extended; that the results sought by the distribution are attained more effectively; and that further advantages of manufacture, cost, assembly, operation and other factors have been provided.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any Vof its advantages, it is to be understood that all CII matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense. 1-

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all the' generic and specific -features of the `invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

1. In combination, a casing including a portion'having a bore for conducting a liquid and a portion forming an air chamber, an injector jet for thev liquid in a compartment of the bore, a Venturi tube in the bore for receiving liquid from the jet and air from the compartment, a liquid dispensing pipe reversibly rotatable about its longitudinal axis and adapted to receive liquid from said tube, a reversible stroke air operated device in said chamber, means for transmitting the motion of said device to said pipe, said casing having a main duct vcommunicating with said compartment and branch ducts communicating with said chamber, and valve means for connecting said main duct alternately to said branch ducts.

2. In combination, a casing including a through bore for conducting -a liquid and an air chamber, said casing having side Walls adjacent to the bore inlet and outlet, respectively, an injector jet for the liquid in a compartment of the bore next to said inlet, a Venturi tube in the bore for receiving liquid from the jet and air from the compartment, a liquid receiving pipe connected to said tube and journaled in the casing adjacent to said outlet and including a portion exteriorly of the casing having liquid dispensing apertures, a shaft journaled in the casing, a reversible stroke air operated vane fixed to said shaft in said chamber, means for transmitting to the pipe the motion of the shaft derived from the vane, said inlet end side Wall having a center duct connecting with said compartment and ducts at opposite sides of said center duct communicating with the chamber near the ends of the strokes of the vane, respectively, a valve body movable for connecting said center duct alternately to said side ducts, said body being movable by said shaft to a center position, and means for reversibly operating said body in advance of the shaft vfrom said position.

3. In combination, a casing including a liquid conducting through bore and an air chamber having side Walls adjacent to the bore inlet and outlet respectively, an injector jet for the liquid in a compartment of the bore next to said inlet, a Venturi tube in the bore for receiving liquid from the jet, a liquid receiving pipe journaled on the tube including a portion outside the casingr at the outlet end of the bore and having liquid dispensing apertures, a shaft journaled in said side walls offset from said bore, a reversible stroke air operated vane on said shaft in said chamber, means for transmitting rotative movement of the vane and the shaft to the pipe, said inlet end side wall having a 4center duct communicating with said compartmenty and ducts at opposite sides of said center duct communicating with the chamber near the ends of the strokes of said vane, respectively, a valve body over said ducts movable for connecting said center duct alternately to said side ducts, said body being movable by said shaft to a center position, and means including spring means for reversibly operating said body in advance of the shaft from said position.

Y conducting through'bore and an air chamber about an axis in parallel 'offset relation to the bore -axishaving 'side Walls adjacent to the bore inlet and outlet, respectively, an injector jet for the liquid in a compartment ofthe bore having an' outer end conduit coupling portion, a Venturi tube in the bore for receiving the liquid' from the jet and extending from said compartment toward the outer end of the bore, a liquid receiving pipe journaled on the tube and including an arched portion outside the casing having liquid dispensing side apertures and a closed outer end, a shaft journaled in said side Walls on said ofi"- set axis, a reversible stroke air operated vane fixed to, and extending radially from, said shaft, slip motion means for transmitting rotative movement from the shaft to the pipe, said inlet endside Wall having a center duct communicating With' said compartment and'air ducts at oppositel sides of said center duct communicating With'said chamber at positions near the ends of the'strokes of said vane, respectively, a valve body over saidducts pivotallymovable aboutthe shaft axis relative thereto and adapted to connect said center duct alternately to said side ducts, said shaft having means'for movingv and releasing said valve body,- and. means includingV spring means for reversibly operating said body in ad- Vance of the shaft from a center Vposition to which the body is moved by the shaf f WALTER. H. FREYGANG REFERENCES CITED The following references are f record'in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES Davis June 13, 1939 

